Morteros mineros antiguos de la cala del Figo (Salave, Asturias)

Laburpena

A large set of old mortars for mining use was found in Cala del Figo, not far from two large ditch-channels and three underground galleries from the Roman mining workings of the Silva lagoons in Salave (Tapia de Casariego, Asturias)So far 51 stone pieces have been located, of which 27 are identifiable as more or less complete mortars and the rest as fragments of that type of pieces or the like. The pieces are made of gabbro, quartz or quartzite. All the pieces have been numbered, measured, photographed and located. Given their regular state of conservation as they are subject to coastal dynamics, their crushing and rounding coefficients have been calculated and their asymmetries have been estimated to try to define to what extent their shapes are primitive or due to subsequent erosive agents.The original location of the mortars, that would have chronological implications, is discussed and their shapes and types are related to their possible instrumental functions. It is concluded that the pieces could have had multiple uses for crushing and grinding, without ruling out that some of them had also been used in the was-hing and concentration of heavy metal ores, presumably gold.Urgent protective measures are recommended both for the pieces and for the ar-chaeological-mining site as a whole.